Hope is a Valuable Currency

Just Like Real Money, It’s Nice to Have Some

Life is full of surprises - no, really, it’s true. You just never know when the next domino is going to fall or when the next shoe will drop. (How profound.) What does this have to do with anything? Well, read on and I’ll do my best to explain.

In June, Democrats, Liberals, Progressives, left of center Independents, and Republicans who actually give a damn about their country, were in kind of a funk. A monumentally important presidential election was on the horizon, and the nominees were the same two really old white guys we had in the previous election. They were both too old in 2020, so what did we do? We nominated them again! I cannot be the only one who was less than enthused about this.

However, that is the hand we were dealt. As unenthusiastic as we may have been, the choice between the two old white guys was as easy as it gets. We knew Joe Biden was not as sharp as he once was, but, he was the clear and obvious choice. I mean, who in their right mind would ever consider voting for the other guy - a whiny, twice impeached, riot-inciting, Putin-loving, lying liar scumbag and 34 time convicted felon?

Joe Biden, sensing his convicted felon opponent was vulnerable, and no doubt looking for an early knockout blow, agreed to a debate scheduled for June 27, 2024. That is the night the dominos began to fall.

Biden’s debate performance was horrifyingly bad. No need to pick over the carcass here, we all know how awful it was. The election was more than four months away, and many of us were left trying to get our minds right for the difficult, depressing slog to come. Due to his disastrous debate performance, Biden’s age and fitness for office were going to dominate the campaign whether we liked it or not, whether it was fair or not.

Time catches up with everyone lucky enough to live a long life. Still, considering the alternative, we were going to vote for Joe Biden no matter what, but we were not looking forward to November. At least not with anything that could be called “excitement”. Many of us were revved up to vote against the Regressive Party’s felonious candidate, but let’s face it, the enthusiasm was lacking for Joe Biden. After the debate, his candidacy seemed in peril, and it is not hyperbole to say that, to many of us, our democracy seemed in peril, as well.

This is where my mind was when, on July 6th, I posted “Should Joe Go?”, my two cents as to whether Joe Biden should consider stepping aside. Here’s the link:

https://thestormbynorm.substack.com/p/should-joe-go

A couple of weeks later, on July 21, in a surprising turn of events, President Biden announced he would not seek a second term as President, and that he was throwing his support to his loyal vice president, Kamala Harris. The biggest of dominos had fallen.

Why did he do it? Well, I take him at his word. He did it for his country. I believe President Biden, in his heart of hearts, knew he was not up to what was sure to be a bruising, stressful campaign. He had to have been aware of all the negativity and the lack of enthusiasm surrounding his candidacy. And, he believed if his predecessor ever got back in the White House, it would be mega-disaster even worse than before. Joe Biden knew he could not let that happen.

I’m sure his instinct was to not back down from a fight. Biden had already beaten his orange foe once, and he believed he was uniquely positioned to do it again. It couldn’t have been easy to contemplate stepping aside. It was understandable that he required some time to make the historic decision to stand down. I would guess unpleasant conversations were had. Perhaps he needed a nudge from his family and friends and former colleagues, but in the end Joe Biden made the wrenching decision to do what he had to do.

By passing the torch to Kamala Harris, Joe Biden proved himself to be a patriot and a statesman. He recognized that our very democracy was in danger, and despite what it meant for him personally, he showed he cared more about his country than himself. That will be his legacy.

Now look where we are. It is as if a switch has been flipped. Where once there was apprehension, anxiety, even dread, now there is positivity, optimism, and that most precious of commodities: hope. Liberals and Progressives and Democrats suddenly are jazzed for the election. The Democratic National Convention was a smashing success. The enthusiasm is real. The passion from the early Obama years has been reignited.

And, it all happened so fast. The way that everything coalesced around Kamala Harris is nothing less than astounding. I was concerned that multiple Democrats would see an opportunity to satisfy their Oval Office lust and the convention would become a chaotic disaster, which would only benefit their felonious opponent.

But, the Democratic convention turned out to be a joyful lovefest for Kamala Harris and her running mate, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota. And, of course, for Joe Biden, too. Who knew Democrats could pull themselves together like that? I sure didn’t. Perhaps Michelle Obama said it best, “America, hope is making a comeback!”

Kamala Harris and Tim Walz - photo by Gage Skidmore

Being a worst case scenario kind of guy, I can’t help but express a note of caution amongst all the joy and giddiness. There will be tough, difficult days ahead and the Regressives will not just roll over. There may be more dominos to fall.

If Democrats and Liberals and Progressives want to win this election, they must fight for every single vote. And it will be crucial for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to continue inspiring high levels of turnout-producing enthusiasm, paid for by their energetic message of optimism and hope.

There’s that word again - hope. One of life’s most valuable currencies. (Oh my goodness, whatever happened to that bitter, snarky, old grouch I used to be?)

Here I am!

Here’s what I hope:

I hope Kamala Harris keeps her foot on the gas, no matter what the polls say.

I hope she can build on this tsunami of enthusiasm.

I hope she rises to the occasion.

I hope she realizes the best way to counter a rambling, addlebrained, lying liar is to articulate her positions clearly, forcefully, and honestly. Truth is the antidote to the lying liar’s lies.

I hope she will articulate a progressive vision for the future, and still pound away at her convicted felon opponent at every opportunity.

I hope she inspires a record turnout.

I hope I never have to see, or hear from or about, a certain orange convicted felon ever again, except for when he is sentenced to prison.

I hope she wins and wins big, in a landslide, making the Electoral College simply a formality.

However, even if she only wins by one vote, all that matters is winning. Electing Kamala Harris as President of the United States will save our democracy from being flushed down the drain by a selfish fascist degenerate criminal. Voting for Kamala Harris is the only sensible thing to do.

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